Dispensing apparatus



April 3, 1962 H. soUTHwlcK 3,028,014

DISPENSINGAPPARATUS Filed oct. 15, 1959 JNVENTOR. HAROLD SOUTHWICKATTORNEYS United States Patent @ffice tlZgili Patented Apr. 3, 19623,028,014 DISPENSING APPARATUS Harold Southwick, Rte. 1, Box 119,Willits, Calif. Filed Oct. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 846,570 1 Claim. (Cl.211-49) This invention relates to a dispensing apparatus and moreparticularly to a dispensing apparatus for containers such as cartons,boxes, milk bottles and cartons, bottles and cans containing beverages,and the like.

Where containers carrying milk and other beverages are stored in arefrigerated compartment or case, it is often desirable that thecontainers be advanced towards the front of the case as the containersare removed from the case so that the containers are always in view ofthe customer and also so that they are readily accessible to thecustomer. Devices have heretofore been provided for advancing milkbottles and other small containers. However, such devices have beenfound to be generally unsatisfactory for numerous reasons. For example,some devices have been found to be difficult to keep clean and in properworking order, ywhereas other devices have been found to be inadequateto handle large containers. There is therefore, a need for a dispensingapparatus which can be utilized for readily advancing containers to thefront of the case. This is particularly true since the advent of the sixpack so that it is desirable to advance the six pack to the front of thecase.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide adispensing apparatus which will advance containers to a forward positionas certain of the containers are removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the abovecharacter in which the containers are generally aligned and in whichwhen the front container is removed, the remaining containers areadvanced so that the next container is in front and can be readilyremoved from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide dispensing apparatus ofthe above character which is suitable for large containers and forpackages containing a plurality of smaller containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus ofthe above character which will advance every container in the group orrow of containers to the front of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus ofthe above character in which the advancing mechanism can be locked in arearmost position during loading.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus ofthe above character in which the advancing mechanism can be readilyreleased as soon as the apparatus is loaded with containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus ofthe above character which is relatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus ofthe above character which is easy to keep clean.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description in which the preferred embodiment is set forth indetail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a dispensing apparatus incorporating myinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view similar to that shown in FIGURE 2with the apparatus loaded with six packs.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-Sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional View in plan showing the means forinterlocking one dispensing apparatus with another.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the dispensing ap paratus consistsof a framework 11 which includes a horizontally disposed top wall 12which has its side edges secured to a pair of spaced parallel verticallydisposed side walls 13 and 14. The end edges of the top wall are securedto spaced parallel vertically disposed front and rear end walls 16 and17. The top wall is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 13defined by downturned edges 12a and 12b and which extends parallel tothe side walls 13 and 14 and is spaced substantially equidistant fromthe side walls 13 and 14. It will be noted, particularly from FIGURE 1,that the side wall 13 is provided with straight end portions 13a and 13bwhereas the side wall 14 is provided with U-shaped end portions 14a and14h for a purpose hereinafter described.

A cylindrical rod 19 is disposed below the top wall 12 and immediatelyunderlies the longitudinally extending slot 18 in the top wall. The rod19 extends between the front and rear end walls 16 and 17 and is securedthereto in a suitable manner such as screws 21 extending through the endwalls. A compression type coil spring 22 is mounted on the 4rod 19 andhas one end abutting the rear wall 17. The other or front end of the.coil spring 22 is engaged by a bushing 23 which is slidably mounted onthe rod 19.

The bushing 23 carries a finger 24 which extends upwardly through thelongitudinal slot 18 in the top wall and is secured to a slider or plate26 by suitable means such as welding. As shown, particularly in FIGURE lof the drawing, the plate 26 is of a width which is substantially thesame asV the 'spacing between the side walls 13 and 14 and. has a lengthwhich is preferably no greater than the width of the largest containerwhich is to be placed in the dispensing apparatus. It also will be notedthat the finger 24 is secured to the plate 26 in such a manner thatsubstantially al1 the plate extends rearwardly from the finger.

An upwardly extending flange 27 is provided adjacent the rear edge ofthe plate and is fixed to the plate. An upwardly extending lip 28 isalso provided on the rear edge of the plate immediately behind the ange27. The lip 28 is adapted to be engaged by a catch 29 mounted on therear wall of the framework and positioned centrally between the sidewalls 13 and 14. The catch 29 is provided with a spring 31 whichnormally urges the spring to an uppermost position as shown in FIGURE 2.

Operation and use of the dispensing apparatus may now be brieflydescribed as follows. Let it be assumed that it is desired to provide adispensing apparatus for six pack cartons of a conventional type, eachof which contains six containers of a particular beverage. The framework11 for the dispensing apparatus is designed so that it has the correctwidth and length to accommodate the desired number of six packs; forexample, as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing, a dispensing apparatus isshown which readily accommodates four six packs 36 with ease. In thisembodiment, the framework has been designed so that it has a width whichis equal to the length of the cartons 36 and has a length which willaccommodate the width of four cartons.

When it is desired to utilize one of the dispensing apparatuses, thedispensing apparatus is placed in the refrigerator cabinet or case sothat the front end is adjacent the door of the refrigerator cabinet orcase. The slider or plate 26 is then pushed rearwardly with one handuntil it is adjacent the rear end wall of the framework.

The catch 29 is then pushed downwardly against the force of spring 31with the other hand so that it engages the lip 28. At the same time, theslider is released so that the friction between the catch and the lipserves to maintain the catch in an engaged position as shown in FIGURE3. Thereafter, the cartons 36 are loaded into the dispensing apparatus,one by one, until the dispensing apparatus has been filled. As soon asthe dispensing apparatus has been filled, the framework is grasped withone hand and then the row of cartons is pushed rearwardly with the otherhand so that the slider is also pushed rearwardly to release the catch29. The spring 31 causesthe catch to return to its normal position outof the path of the slider and allows the slider to come into contactwith the row of cartons to urge the cartons towards the front of theframework. Thereafter, as soon as a carton is removed, the slider 26 isurged forwardly by the spring 22 to adv-ance the next carton towards thefront of the refrigerator case or compartment. This continues as eachcarton is removed until all of the cartons have been advanced to thefront of the case.

The use of such a dispensing apparatus has been found to be particularlyadvantageous in that the product being sold is always in front of therefrigerator cabinet or case so that it can be readily viewed by theprospective customer. This is particularly important because it isreadliy apparent that as soon as one or two of the cartons have beenremoved from the front of the case, the remaining cartons are disposedin the rear of the case where they may be almost hidden from the view ofthe prospective purchaser. In addition, the use of my apparatus makes itmuch easier for the customer to reach the cartons and to remove thecartons from the refrigerator case.

The use of the catch on the dispensing apparatus is particularlyadvantageous in that it facilitates loading of the dispensing apparatuswith containers or cartons. It is only necessary to movethe slideragainst the spring 22 at the time of loading so that the catch 219 canbe engaged with the lip 28. Thereafter, the cartons can be readilyplaced in the dispensing apparatus. As soon as the loading has beencompleted as hereinbefore described the catch is released merely bypushing on the row of cartons and allowing the spring 31 to urge thecatch 29 upwardly out of engagement with the lip 2S.

When it is desired to utilize a plurality of my dispensing apparatuseslfor dispensing different types of beverages and containers, thedispensing apparatus may be positioned side-by-side merely byinterlocking the ends 13a and 13b with the U-shaped portions 14a and 14has shown particularly in FIGURE 5 of the drawing. This makes possible aneat, compact assembly so that each dispensing apparatus or tray isstabilized by the other tray or trays connected thereto. The means forconnecting the trays is relatively simple so that the trays can beeasily assembled or disassembled. This facilitates cleaning of the trayswhen desired.

It is yapparent from the foregoing that I have provided a new andimproved dispensing tray or rack which is particularly adapted foradvancing containers from the rear towards the front in a storagecompartment so that they can be readily viewed and removed by thecustomer. It is also readily apparent that the dispensing apparatus isof a type which can be utilized with different types of containers andcartons. For example, if desired, round milk bottles can be readilyadvanced by -a slider 216 merely by properly sizing the framework and byshaping the slider 26 so that it accommodates a round milk bottle. Theslider should always be of such a dimension that it is no longer thanthe corresponding dimension of the container to be advanced. The traysor racks can be formed of any suitable material such as metal orplastic.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSerial No. 6705763, liled July 9, 1957 now abandoned.

I claim:

In a dispensing apparatus for containers, a framework including a pairof spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls and spacedy parallelvertically disposed front and rear end walls connected to said sidewalls and extending at right angles to the side walls, said frameworkalso including a horizontally disposed top wall secured to the sidewalls and the end walls and extending between the side walls and thefront and rear walls, said top wall being formed with a longitudinallyextending relatively narrow slot extending between the front and endwalls Aand being disposed equidistant from and parallel to the sidewalls, a rod disposed below the top wall and in general alignment withsaid slots, said rod extending between the front and rear end walls andbeing connected thereto, `a compression type coil spring mounted on saidrod and engaging the rear wall, a slide member slidab-ly mounted on saidrod and engaging the forward end of said spring, said slide memberhaving a planar horizontal portion immediately overlying thehorizontally disposed top wall and adapted to receive a container, saidslide member also having a relatively narrow portion extendingdownwardly through said slot and engaging the rod and another containerengaging portion extending upwardly from the horizontally extendingportion of the slide member, said spring serving to urge said slidemember and said containers engaged thereby toward the front end wall ofthe dispensing apparatus, releasable catch means movable between theslide member engaging and the slide member disengaging positions forretaining the slide member in a retracted position, and means yieldablyurging the catch means out of engagement with the slide member and forretaining said catch means in an outof-the-way position when said catchmeans is disengaged, said slide member being formed with a catchengaging portion `disposed to the rear of thel upwardly extendingportion of the slide member, said catch means being manually movableinto engagement with the catch engaging portion of the slide memberagainst the force of the yieldable means and being maintained in anengaged position against the force of the yieldable means by frictionalengagement between the catch engaging portions of the slide memberandthe catch means, said catch means being automatically moved to thedisengaged position by said yieldable means upon manually urging theslide member rearwardly against the force of the compression spring todecrease the frictional engagement between the catch engaging portion ofthe slide member and the catch means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.14,279 Back Apr. 3, 1917 1,007,398 Snider Oct. 31, 1911 1,076,116Hatfield Oct. 2l, 1913 1,338,062 Voight Apr. 27, 1920 1,418,153 LorberMay 30, 1922 1,421,645 Wilson July 4, 1922 2,111,496 Scriba Mar. 15,1938

